Las Vegas, NV—Following a successful photokina 2018 this September, the imaging show’s sponsor, German Photo Industry Association (PIV), and organizer, Koelnmesse, moved photokina from May 2019 to May 2020.
May 2019 was scheduled as the first time photokina would be held as an annual event. However, the traditionally biannual imaging show will now occur on May 27, 2020 and run through May 30, 2020. It will then occur annually in Cologne each May thereafter.
The decision to postpone the start of the announced annual cycle by one year gives all participants the opportunity to further develop a new concept for photokina. In addition, it gives the show’s organizers the ability to tap into new target groups among exhibitors and visitors. As a result, they hope to heighten the show’s status as a global platform for the photo-imaging industry.
Factors Leading to the Move
“photokina 2018 clearly exceeded our already optimistic expectations. It featured groundbreaking innovations and 180,000 visitors from 127 countries,” explained Rainer Führes, PIV’s CEO. “As a result, we set the bar very high for the next event. It is therefore unlikely that, in May 2019 after just over seven months, we will once again be able to create the same enthusiastic atmosphere that characterized photokina 2018. This is why we have decided to start the planned annual cycle in 2020.
“The Photoindustrie-Verband would like to thank Koelnmesse for its willingness to quickly comply with this request. This shows once again the great professionalism as well as excellent customer orientation that has characterized our trusting partnership for decades now,” added Führes.
“We understand that even the most powerful technology companies cannot ensure they will once again be able to bring such innovative strength to the exhibition halls as we experienced at photokina 2018 within an extremely short lead time of just seven months,” said Gerald Böse, Koelnmesse’s CEO.
“It is precisely these innovations, however, that shape the character of photokina as the world’s leading trade fair. As does the presence of all the leading suppliers in the industry as well as important users, retailers and service providers worldwide. In order to make sure we can continue to fulfill this requirement in the future and meet the expectations of exhibitors and visitors with every event, we have responded flexibly to PIV’s wishes. This will ensure the continued unique impact and public appeal of one of our flagship trade fairs in the future.”
Koelnmesse & PIV Reflect on photokina
In 2018, photokina was successfully presented under the umbrella of a new concept. This included the increased involvement of new exhibitors from innovative areas. These segments included mobile, imaging analytics, digital workflow as well as moving images. It also saw a stronger focus on the visitor’s experience.
Koelnmesse believes this combination of experience and product presentation, which was “well received by younger target groups in particular, ensured full halls, overcrowded workshops and spectacular presentations on the event areas, in front of which large crowds of people repeatedly formed, despite the trade fair being shortened by two days.”
Moreover, conventional media and also digital/social channels covered photokina to a greater extent than in previous years. These channels were Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and also Twitter. 
In addition, the newly created Imaging Lab proved to be an important impetus for the industry. The Imaging Lab was the venue where start-ups, investors and scientists presented and discussed new imaging applications at photokina 2018.
“Together with numerous groundbreaking innovations from established imaging companies, this resulted in a showcase of the great dynamism,” Böse added. Furthermore, these newly introduced features will also shape photokina 2020.
